JK 716 
♦ .B6 



ECONOMIC TRACTS, No. XXII. 



Civil-Service Examinations 



BEING QUESTION PAPERS, WITH ACTUAL ANSWERS OF 
• SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES 



EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION 



BY 



R. R. BOWKER 



NEW YORK 

THE SOCIETY FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION 
31 PARK ROW 
li 



H3- ^ ■ — m 



The Society for Political Editcation, 

{ORCAiVJZED i8So.) 



OBJECTS.-The Society was organized by citizens wiio ];elieve that theW, 
cess of our government depends on the active political influence of educated intelligence 
and tliat panics are means, not ends. It is entirely non-pariisan in its organization' 
and IS not to be used for any oiher purpose than the awakening of an intelligent 
niterest in government methods and purposes, tending to restrain the abuse of parties 
and to promote party morality. 

Among its organizers are numbered Democrats, Republicans, and Independents 
who difTer among themselves as to which party is best fitted to conduct the govern- 
ment ; but who are in the main agreed as t.o the following propositions : 

a.Tvote^'n.sfbl M.^lii"'^" '° '" '''' ^'°'^^ lllL/J'^^^-"^^"^^ "^"^' ^^ convertible on de- 
Office-holders must not control the suffrage Labor hi^ « rio^hf »^ fK^ i,- u . 

Public service, in business positions, should tore? by Taxe7 exceo't^for '^:'v:f ''"' ''"^"^- 
depend solely on fitness and good behavior nenses governmenc ex 

beVefemleJsry punisheZ ""' ^°""P^'°" ""^^ oP^rTT'"'''' ""^^ ^^ '''''''''^ ^^"™ ^^"- 

timSpanies" """'" '^ ^^'^'^P-^-t of na- NeUher\l^e public money nor the peopled 

Coins made unlimited legal tender must pHse""" "' '° subsidize private enter- 

E^fs o? ti'e ';i?M ^"'"'^ '' ''•'''' '" '''' ■™^'- , ^ public opinion, wholesome and active.'un, 

Sound currency must have a metal basis, and g3Tf'p'o{;ur SStuiCj;?'' '^ ''' ^^"^ ^*^^^ 

Persons who become members of the Society are not, however, required to endorse 
the above. 

METHODS.-The Society proposes to carry out its objects by submitting from 
time to time to its members lists of books which it regards as desirable reading^ on 
current political and economic questions ; by selecting annual courses of reading for 
Its members; by supplying the books so selected at the smallest possible advance 
beyond actual cost ; by furnishing and circulating at a low price, and. in cheap form 
sound economic and political literature in maintenance and illustration of the princi^ 
pies above announced as constituting the basis of its organization ; and by assisting in 
the formation of reading and corresponding circles and clubs for discussing social 
political, and economic questions. ' 

vear?'''''''''n''^'''''-''" "^--^y -— ged by a Committee, .elccte<l from 
>ear toyear. 1 he correspondence of the Society is divided among five Secretaries 
.n^.^...^. for the Fast, the Xorthwest. the .Southeast, the Southwest, and the Pac^^ 

It is suggested tiiat branch organizations be formed wherever it is possible (and 

form a Club o ten persons, each of whom shall be an active member >f this Society 
Will be entitled to a set of the tracts issue<l for the current year. 



ECONOMIC TRACTS, No. XXII. 



Civil-Service Examinations 



BEING QUESTION PAPERS, WITH ACTUAL ANSWERS 
OF SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES 



EDITED, WITH >AN INTRODUCTION BY 

r^r! bowker 



NEW YORK 

THE SOCIETY FOR POLITICAL EDUCATION 

31 PARK ROW 

1886 



Civil-Service Examiaations. 



The United States Government is the largest single 
employer *o£ labor in this country. Its pay-rolls include 
120,000 people. When it pays wages, whether it is the 
salary of the President of the United States or the day's 
wages of a laborer at the commonest work, every penny 
has to come out of the pockets of the people. Even if 
they do not pay taxes, they have to pay government ex- 
penses all the same, since they pay higher prices for rent 
and for all they buy because of the taxes. When Uncle 
Sam, therefore, pays for a day's work he ought to get the 
best day's work that can be had for the money. Un- 
fortunately he has often had the worst instead of the 
best service, because in hiring men a great many consid- 
erations have come in with which a private employer 
would not have to deal. Men who have been workers 
in "politics" thought it proper that they should be paid 
for that kind of work by " getting an office," and they 
consequently felt it less their duty to do the real work 
for which the salary was really paid. It has also been 
the frequent custom to employ great numbers of men in 
the navy yards a few days before election (virtually to 
buy their votes), and then to turn them out into the cold 
a few days after the election. It was difficult to stop 
this because the politicians thought it to their interest to 
keep up the system. What is true of the national govern- 
ment is also true in less degree of each State in the 



2 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

Union, and each city or town. They ought to get the 
best service at a fair rate, but they have often paid the 
highest prices for the poorest kind of work. 

^' Civil-service reform " had two things to accomplish : 
first, to prevent the government service, the service of 
the whole people, from being misused for politicians or 
parties ; second, to provide for choosing fit men for the 
public service, on truly democratic principles. 

Usually, after each election, the politicians who had 
won wanted places for their friends. They began this 
cry as long ago as the time of Thomas Jefferson. But 
Jefferson refused to remove good officers, unless they had 
been violent partisans. The party workers, nevertheless, 
kept up their pressure, and by the time of Jackson it was 
recognized that "to the victors belong the spoils." This 
meant that the half of the American people which won 
in an election were entitled to look upon the other half as 
victims of war. This was a very un-American, un-demo- 
cratic, un-republican spirit. 

The pressure on appointing officers to put new men 
in could not be satisfied without turning tried men out. 
The appointing officers found a great part of their time 
used up by office-seekers, when they should have been 
doing the public business. They did not like to put out 
trained men, and put in new ones who would have to 
waste much time in training. Moreover, the men who 
were put in, knowing they might be turned out at the next 
election, in their turn, took less pains to learn their work 
well. And they felt obliged to give a good deal of their 
work to the politicians who got them in, instead of to the 
whole people which paid them their salary. They be- 
came literally the " retainers " of politicians, who used 
them to pack conventions and influence nominations, till 
outside citizens began to find that they had almost 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 3 

no influence in politics at all. Democracy was, in short, 
becoming a sham ; an oligarchy of office-holders was run- 
ning the country. The public service was saved from 
utter corruption only by the native strength and honesty 
of American character. 

The remedy first suggested for this evil was, naturally 
enough, to prevent removals, so that there would be no 
chance for the politicians to put their men in. But it 
was not possible to prevent the removals of good men 
without tying up public officers so that they could not re- 
move inefficient men. No business can be conducted 
without constantly weeding out the poor stuff.. This was 
not a safe cure. The true remedy was found in prevent- 
ing unfit appointments by examining applicants as to 
their fitness. The " worker " who was a mere tool of a 
politician thus had no chance. It was also found that by 
referring applicants to a Board, which should report to 
the appointing officer the best four men from whom to 
choose, he was relieved of much of the pressure which 
took his time from public work. The Civil-Service Com- 
mission was appointed to work out this plan, and it 
proved that the best method of preventing the misuse of 
the service was also the best method of choosing the 
most fit men — namely, competitive examinations. 

The common-sense employer, when he has to hire a 
new man, tries to find out what sort of a man an appli- 
cant is, and how fit he is to do the work he applies for. 
If two men desire work, and there is work for but one, it 
is only fair that the work should be given to the man who 
has trained himself to be best fitted for it. If it were 
not for this there would be no inducement to men to be 
industrious and to learn a trade, but a premium would 
be put on ignorance and idleness, and our whole Ameri- 
can system, which is founded on education and on giving 



4 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

every man a fair chance, would break down. The diffi- 
culty in doing this in the case of the government service, 
has been that, the '' government " being the employer, no 
one person was interested like a private employer in test- 
ing those who applied for work. Many of those people 
who had to do with employing labor felt under obliga- 
tions to the persons who helped to elect them to office, and 
they consequently cared more to please their backers than 
to see that the people got its money's worth when it em- 
ployed them. To overcome this difficulty the civil-ser- 
vice laws were passed. They provided simply that those 
seeking government employment should give, as nearly 
as differing circumstances would permit, the same evi- 
dence of being able to do good work that men would 
give who sought to enter the service of a private em- 
ployer. 

A private employer is pretty sure, first, to ask a man to 
give some account of himself, where he has been and 
what he has done ; then to require " references " from 
those who have known him ; then to judge whether the 
man is physically capable for the work he wants to do ; 
then to judge of his general intelligence or education ; 
and, lastly, to ascertain whether he has special fitness for 
the particular kind of work he is particularly to do. This 
is the general plan of the civil-service examinations. 
One set of questions brings out what the man has to say 
of himself, his age, experience, etc. Blank forms for 
"references" or "testimonials " are given him, in which 
those who have really known him may answer questions 
so drawn that they must tell plainly and straightforwardly, 
without dodging, how long they have known him and 
what they know about him. Another form gives a sur- 
geon's report on his physique, in cases where physical 
ability is important, as for police, firemen or watchmen. 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 5 

A second set of questions tests the general intelligence 
of the applicant, his knowledge of writing, reading, 
arithmetic, and other acquirements which every capable 
American should have to some extent. A third set of 
questions ascertains how fit he is for the particular kind 
of work he has to do, testing either his experience and 
special knowledge in it or his special capability for learn- 
ing it. These papers are marked separately, and the 
mark given to each paper depends upon the importance 
of the information it gives for the place sought. Thus, 
for a watchman, physique and testimonials would count 
most, while for an ordinary clerkship, physique would 
scarcely count at all, and general intelligence would be 
the main thing. 

There has been a great deal of nonsense talked and 
written about asking a man who had to clean streets 
questions about ancient history, astronomy, and San- 
skrit. A few examples of actual examination papers 
show how false that talk is. Throughout the civil ser- 
vice, according to the new system, the questions have been 
concerned either with the elementary education which 
every American citizen ought to have, with the specific 
technical knowledge that a man requires for the position 
sought, or with the grammar-school or higher education 
on which appointment to very responsible positions ought 
to be based. The answers of successful and of unsuc- 
cessful competitors from actual examination papers ap- 
pended to these examination questions, will illustrate 
further the practical workings of the system. 

Of course, a private employer judges a great deal by a 
man's bearing, by how he talks, and above all by how 
he sets to work if a chance is given him ; and it is some- 
times said that this cannot be got at by any system of 
written examinations. This is more or less true, but in 



6 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

these examinations, the marking from the man's own ac- 
count of himself, and of what his previous employers 
or those who certify to him have to say, partly takes the 
place of talk face to face, and the system of " probation " 
gives a chance for trying a man at actual work. The 
successful candidate is not fully appointed for three or 
six months ; during that time he is kept at the work he 
was chosen to do, and if he fails to do it well he is 
dropped. If he succeeds, he gets his permanent ap- 
pointment. 

It is also said that, after all, private influence has a 
good deal to do with employment in private business, 
that is to say, a merchant will take his brother, or his 
nephew, or his wife's cousin sooner than he will take an 
entire stranger. This is true only to a certain extent. 
The man who succeeds in business takes the best help he 
can get, and takes his relatives only where they are as 
good as other applicants. If he is weak-minded enough 
to let his family instead of himself run the business, he 
has to suffer the consequences. Uncle Sam is placed by 
the national civil-service law in a position similar to that 
of the private employer. He gives his preference to 
those members of his own family, so to speak, who fought 
in the war for the Union. If the candidates show equal 
fitness, and one of them has been a soldier or a sailor in 
the war, the law requires that he shall be given the place. 
"Persons honorably discharged from the military or 
naval service, by reason of disability resulting from 
wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty, shall be 
preferred for appointments to civil offices." On the 
other hand, a soldier who is not competent does not get 
the place over a competent private citizen. Thus Uncle 
Sam is protected from giving places to those who cannot 
do their money's worth of work. This is a test which 



CIVIL- SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 7 

cannot be objected to by any fair-minded applicant, 
whether he is a soldier or not a soldier. To give places 
to men only because they were soldiers would be to build 
up a military caste. 

The " merit test," as it has been well called, has proved 
most satisfactory in practice. It has relieved appointing 
officers from "pressure," and given them time to attend 
to their proper work. It has given to the public service 
more efficient clerks. It has protected them from being 
at the mercy of politicians. The heads of departments 
in our cities have borne testimony to its capital workings 
in their fields. And in Boston, a prominent politician 
who "did n't take much stock in civil-service reform," 
said that the Boston system of registering and selecting 
laborers "has worked well, and has relieved the honest 
and industrious laborers of many impositions under 
which they have heretofore suffered." This has caused 
the gradual extension of civil-service reform, till now it 
includes over 15,000 places in the national government ; 
State systems, covering also the cities, in New York 
(including some 14,000 places) and in Massachusetts ; 
and city systems East and West. It should be the aim 
of every good citizen to help extend this reform. 

The objections still raised against the merit system 
are, for the most part, such as exist against any system of 
appointment. No system is perfect. It is true, for in- 
stance, that bad men may get into office, perhaps from 
State prison, or men may go out of office into State 
prison, under the competitive-examination system as 
under other systems. But the chances are less. The 
objections of the mere politician, whom it deprives of his 
power, are a testimony in its favor. It is not true that 
civil-service reform destroys parties, as he falsely alleges ; 
it makes them mean more, because it puts them again 



8 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

under control of the people. One serious source of dis- 
satisfaction with the reform that should be mentioned, 
is the disappointment of those who have passed their ex- 
amination and are not appointed. It arises from the 
natural mistake of supposing that this gives them an ab- 
solute right to government employment. The facts are 
simply, that the government has certain work to do, and 
for that it requires a certain number of men. If more 
apply, they cannot all get places, and some must be dis- 
appointed. If twelve apply for one place, of whom six 
are pronounced fit, and four certified to the appointing 
officer as highest, the eleven, the five, the three, will be 
disappointed in the degree in which they have come 
near to success. But no system could prevent this. 

The " spoils system," indeed, and some of these criti- 
cisms upon the "merit system," are based upon a doctrine 
that would utterly destroy the American nation. The 
idea that every citizen has " a claim " upon government 
for place, or that those faithfully doing for the public 
what they are paid to do, should be "rotated" out of 
office to give the next man a chance, develops presently 
into a weak socialism that would take all the independence 
out of Americans and make the nation a great paternal 
workhouse. The only safe doctrine is that of President 
Cleveland, that "public office is a public trust." The 
competitive-examination system is, as a matter of fact, the 
only truly democratic system. It gives every man a fair 
chance, no matter how poor he is or how little political 
influence he has. In the practical, every-day life of the 
world, a man's success depends upon his own vigor and 
intelligence. The civil-service examination is simply a 
test of that same vigor and intelligence. In short, 
the civil service under the present reform has changed 
from the favoritism and corruption which the " spoils sys- 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 9 

tern " involved, to a truly American basis, on which each 
man, whether he has or has not money or friends, is made 
to stand on his own feet and given an equal chance to 
earn his own living. 

The papers given herewith show the actual workings 
of the system in its varied applications in the national. 
State, and municipal services, to different grades of work. 
The lowest grade is first given, as shown by the use in 
Boston of a "civil-service-reform " method for selecting 
laborers, not competitive in form, but practically so 
when the choice comes actually to be made. The next 
papers are the examinations for policemen, for which 
class physique, common-sense, and some local knowledge 
are the chief requirements. The Brooklyn papers are 
used, since in this city there has been perhaps the most 
complete development of this method for municipal ser- 
vants of this class. The New York City method adds, 
for police and firemen, a practical athletic test in running, 
climbing, etc. The next grade illustrated is that of 
letter-carrier, of course in the national service, and hand- 
writing, arithmetic, and geographical knowledge are the 
vital subjects, and physique drops out. Finally, an ex- 
ample is given of the examination for the scientific 
position of house inspector (called sanitary engineer) in 
New York City. Here the technical paper is that of 
chief importance. In each case of the competitive ex- 
aminations, the answers of a successful candidate are 
given at the left-, and of an unsuccessful candidate at the 
right-hand side of the page. It will be seen (contrary 
to the favorite satire on the system) that if the applicant 
shows common-sense, a good deal of bad spelling is 
forgiven him. The system varies somewhat, it will be 
seen, in the national, State, and local boards ; and it is 
also to be noted that the methods of examination are 



lO CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

constantly being improved in the direction of " prac- 
tice," not of "theory," as the result of expe-rience and 
of the consultation of the various boards with each other 
Thus, the New York City board has, since the examina- 
tion quoted, adopted a much better form of application 
from those desiring to enter the service. In this way is 
fulfilled the true spirit of civil-service reform — the 
American principle of being at once practical and 
progressive. 



THE BOSTON REGISTRY OF LABORERS. 



In Boston, the Massachusetts Civil-Service Commis- 
sion has introduced a "merit system" for the benefit of 
laborers, on a non-competitive basis, which is as follows : 

An applicant for work as a common laborer has, first, 
to produce certificates from two respectable citizens, as 
shown in the accompanying paper marked "A." 

Then the clerk asks him the necessary questions to fill 
out the form No. i, as shown in the accompanying paper 
marked " B " ; and the statement is sworn to. 

Subsequently a card is filled out, as shown by "C." 
An " M " in red ink indicates military service. A figure 
in blue ink indicates the number in the applicant's 
family depending upon him for support. The cards, 
when filled out in this way, are handed in to police 
head-quarters and sent out to the divisions indicated. 
The patrolman on the beat where the applicant lives, or 
a special officer detailed by the captain, writes on the 
card " steady and industrious," or words equivalent, if 
the man is all right ; if he is a drunkard, or neglects his 
family, or sells liquor, or has been convicted of any of- 
fence within the past year, the officer so states. 

Where the report is satisfactory the man is entered on 
the register as one qualified to be a teamster or driver, 
but willing to work as a com-mon laborer. Whether he is 
certified for work as a driver, or as a common laborer, is 
determined by the kind of service for which the first req- 
uisition calls on which he is entitled to be certified, If 

II 



12 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

he is first certified as a common laborer, and does not 
happen to be selected (double the number called for 
being certified by the commission), he may be certified on 
the next requisition as a driver. The commission does 
not reject any man who applies for work as a common 
laborer (that is, when the register is open for additions to 
the list) and who produces the requisite certificates, un- 
less it appears from his own statement, or from the police 
reports, or from some other responsible source, that he is 
not physically qualified, or that he sells intoxicating liquor, 
or is in the habit of using such liquor to excess, or has 
been convicted of some offence against the laws of the 
commonwealth during the year last past. If he appears 
to the registration clerk to be physically incapable he 
may be required to produce a certificate from a reputable 
physician. 

The cards returned by the police are arranged in alpha- 
betical order for easy reference by name. The entries on 
the register are in the order of numbers. There is also a 
book in which the numbers are kept under headings 
showing the kind of work for which the applicant has 
applied, or for which he alleges capacity. The headings 
of a page, given with " D," show how it is done. When, 
for insta.nce, the health department calls for five team- 
sters, the clerk takes the numbers that appear under 
the head of teamsters, marking them as they appear in 
the extreme left-hand column — with " M " or " N," which 
indicates military or naval experience, if they have had it, 
— with " X " if they have had previous experience in city 
work of the kind called for in the requisition, and with 
the figure denoting the number of dependents. The whole 
list can be gone through in a few minutes. 

Then, when he has all the numbers of teamsters before 
him, with the marks which denote the preferences to be 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS, 1 3 

observed, he can readily pick out the ten to be certified. 
He makes a memorandum of their numbers, and then 
takes the register and writes out the certification on the 
form provided. When the men are employed the num- 
bers are checked, and a record made on the register 
giving date, department, etc. 

When an applicant wants to be certified for a special 
kind of work, such as stone-cutting, or gardening, he is 
required to produce certificates from his former employ- 
ers as to his capacity to do such work. 

The regulations provide that when the service calls for 
men possessing superior physical qualifications the officer 
making the requisition shall so state, and the selection 
will, so far as practicable, be made from those marked at 
the time of registration as possessing such qualifications. 

As showing the general intelligence of applicants for 
the labor service, it is found that about four fifths are able 
to read and write. 

Up to November, 1885, about 1,100 laborers had been 
registered, 800 certified for employment, and 400 em- 
ployed. Under 100 were rejected on the report of the 
police as bad, or as having given false addresses. A dif- 
ficulty arose at the outset from the fact that there were 
several thousand unemployed laborers in Boston, who 
would be turned against " civil-service reform " by design- 
ing politicians, if most of them were enrolled and only a 
few hundred got work. Public announcement was there- 
fore made that registration would cease as soon as suffi- 
cient were enrolled to supply the probable needs of the 
departments for the next six months, and tickets for ex- 
aminations were issued to applicants in the order of their 
coming. 

The results are stated as follows by Commissioner Bug- 
bee : " The heads of departments are greatly relieved ; 



14 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

and the laborers who formerly spent days and weeks 
hanging about the city yards and the corridors of the City 
Hall, soliciting the influence of the bosses and the coun- 
cilmen, have their applications passed upon without delay, 
and in accordance with fixed rules which they can all un- 
derstand. Those who are registered are told that it will 
not improve their chances of getting city work to bring 
any more certificates or references, or to bring any influ- 
ences to bear upon the Commissioners or the heads of 
departments ; that they are not sure of obtaining city 
work ; and that, if employed, they should not stop trying 
to get work elsewhere." 

A. — Certificates from Citizens : 

Boston, Nov. ^7, i88^. 
To the Civil Service Commissioners : 

I hereby certify that I have known Petei^ Brow7i^ living 
at 2^ Wall St.^ in Boston, for (state how long you have 
known him) ten years j that he is able-bodied, and of 
temperate and industrious habits ; and that he is qualified 
for employment as a teamster in the labor service of the 
City of Boston. 

Name, George Smith. 

Residence, 75 Brighton St. 

Occupation, Boss Truckman. 

B. — Applicant's Statement : 

No. I2IJ. Boston, Nov. ^7, i88^ 

I, Peter Brown, hereby declare that I am Jj* years of 
age ; that I am now living at 25 Wall St. j that I am a 
citizen of the U. S. j that I have depending iijDon me 
for support wife and S childreji j that I was in the military 
service of the United States as 2, private for three years in 
time of war, and that I received an honorable discharge 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



15 



therefrom ; that I was last employed by yohn Barnum 
as a driver, for five yrs.j that I was previously employed 
as a teamster by George Smith, and that I am qualified by 
experience to perform the duties of a teamster ; that I 
am not a vender of intoxicating liquors, or in the habit of 
using intoxicating liquors to excess ; that I have not been 
convicted of any offence against the laws of the Common- 
wealth during the year last past. 

('J^^Y^^.^) Peter Brown. 
Sworn to before me, yohn Brown, 

Justice of the Peace. 
REFERENCES : 

NAME. 



RESIDENCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



75 Brighton St. 
SO Myrtle St. 



Truckman. 
Stable-keeper. 



George Smith, 
yohn Barnum. 

REMARKS : 

5 //. c? in. Wt. 160. Blk hair. Ruddy comp. Robust. 
Would like to be driver in Health Dep., but willing to work 
as Com. laborer. 



C. — Card Register, with Police Endorsement : 





M 


I2I3. 


6. 


Brown, Peter. 




2S Wall St. 




Teamster or C. L. 




Police Div. 10. 




Steady, industrious. 




yohji yones. 


213. 



i6 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



D. — Response to Requisition : 

Office of the Commissioners, Boston, i88 

Sir : 

In response to your requisition dated 

for laborers to serve as 

in the - Department, I have the honor 

to certify to you, in accordance with the instructions of the 

Commissioners, the following _ 

names, selected in conformity to the rules and regulations 
for employment in said branch of the service. 

The Commissioners furnish below such information as 
they possess in regard to the character and capacity of 
the persons contained on this list ; and the certification 
of a larger number of names than you have called for is 
for the purpose of enabling you to exercise your discre- 
tion in the selection of those best fitted for the work. If 
those selected are found incompetent or untrustworthy, 
they can be discharged. The power of removal^ existing 
by law, on the part of any officer or board is not impaired by 
any thing contained in the Civil- Service rules. 

The rules require that the names of those selected and 
employed shall be entered on the accompanying blank, 
and returned as soon as practicable to the office of the 
Commissioners. 

Heading of Registry Page. 















^^ 








6 












>.^ 








'A 










>. 


£^ 


^5 






c 
.2 


Name. 


Resi- 
dence. 


Citizen- 
ship. 


Age. 


S 

C 


K o 


^5* 


Refer- 
ences. 


Re- 
marks, 


'5) 










d 


(u a 


















^ 


1- > 




















r'^ =« 



















UJ^ 


^ 







BROOKLYN POLICE EXAMINATION. 

CIVIL SERVICE OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN. 



EXAMINATION FOR 

Patrolmen, Doormen, and Bridge Keepers.* 



N. B. — Perfect Standing, loo ; Minimum, 70. The 

weight given to the subjects on this examination is 
as follows : 

Physique, 40. Requisite minimum, 70 per cent, or 28 

Testimonials, 30. " " 70 " "21 

Intelligence, 20. " " 70 " " 14 

Experience, 10. " " 50 " " 5 



Applicant No. 78. Applicant No. 99. 

Age, 

26 30 

Nativity, 

not given U. S. 

Occupation, 

Seaman. Fireman Stone trde 

Weight, 

168 lbs. 173 ibs. 

Height, 

6 ft. I in. * 5 fi- 9f ^'«- 



* Note by Editor. — The questions are given, as printed on the ex- 
amination blanks, in the large, plain type, across page. The smaller 
italic type shows the actual answers to the questions, those on the 
left by a successful, those on the right by an unsuccessful candidate. 

17 



1 8 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATINOS. 

Normal Chest measurement, 

39 in. 41 in. 

Chest measurements — 
At forced expiration, 

37 "^- 39a ^'«- 

At forced inspiration, 

41 in. 42f in. 

Chest expansion,, 

4 ^*'^- 3i i^' 

Is there evidence of any hereditary disease ? 

No No 

Do you think the applicant a man of temperate habits ? 

Apparently Apparently 

What is his statement as to the same ? 

Claims to be Claims to be 

Is there any indication of disease of the organs of respira- 
tion or their appendages ? 

No No 

Is there any indication of disease of the heart or blood- 
vessels ? 

No No 

Is there any indication of disease of the brain or nervous 
system ? 

No No 

Is there any evidence of venereal disease, past or present ? 

No No 

Are there any indications of hernia or hemorrhoids ? 

No No 

Is the sight good ? 

Yes Yes 

Is the hearing good ? 

Yes Yes 

Is the applicant apparently a sound man in all respects ? 

Yes Yes 

Do you think the applicant is in every way physically 
qualified for the position ? 

Yes Yes 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. tg 

Rating as to physical examination. 

The applicant's mark on Phy- The applicant's mark on Phy- 

sique papers was 37 out of 40. sique papers was 34.40 out of 40. 

E. A. Lewis, 

Surgeon. 



TESTIMONIALS. 

The testimonials were in reply to the following form of 

letter sent out by the Secretary of the Commission : 

There is on file in this office an application for appointment in the 
service of the City of Brooklyn, as policeman, signed by 

who refers to you as having knowledge of his character and of his 
competence for the place to which he seeks to be appointed. 

Will you kindly answer the following questions, and sign and 
return this sheet to this office by first mail. 

^^^ A failure to promptly return this sheet, the Commission is 
compelled to regard as a refusal to certify to the character or compe- 
tence of the applicant. 

5^" In rating the applicants, weight is attached to the FULNESS 
and PRECISION of the replies, to which special attention should there- 
fore be paid. 

How long, when, and where have you known the ap- 
plicant ? 

over Ten Years in Brooklyn The applicant {colored) was a 

E. D. faithful and honest body servant 

Where does he now reside ? to ^^ during seven years' service 

N Oxford St. Bklyn " ^^ ^he 23^ Rgt., N. G. S. N. Y. 

What is his occupation ? • 

y^ . or. ex-Ca^t. 

Engineer & Seaman 

Did he ever learn a trade ? If so, what ? 
Yes Engineer 

Is he related to you by blood or marriage ? 
No 

Under what circumstances did you form his acquaint- 
ance ? 

attending School 



4 

20 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

Has he been in your employment or worked or been 
employed with or under you ? If so, state as precisely 
as possible when, for how long, where and in what 

capacity. 

Never employed or worked 
together 

Have you otherwise had occasion to know or observe 
him in his trade, occupation, or profession ? If so, state 

fully the circumstances. 

No He has been at Sea 

What do you know about his habits with respect to 
temperance ? 

/ know him to be Strictly tem- 
perate 

What do you know about his character with respect to 

honesty and truthfulness ? 

/ know hhn to be Strictly Hon- 
est and Truthful 

What do you know about the character of his asso- 
ciates ? 

His associates are good 

Has he ever to your knowledge been placed in any 
position where his courage was tested ? If so, state 
circumstances and his conduct. 

Yes have known hi?n to Save 
Three lives from Drowning 

What causes you to believe it would be wise in the 
interest of the City to appoint him to the position of 

POLICEMAN ? 

/ believe him to be a cool headed 
ma7i siich as we require on the 
Police 

Signature, 

Please here state your own residence. 
Please here state your own occupation. 
Note by Editor, — Names, etc., are of course omitted in this reprint. 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 21 

[One of five similar Testi- 
monials. — Ed.] 

The applicant's mark on Testi- The applicant's mark on Testi- 

monials was 27 out of 30. monials was 17.66 out of 30. 



INTELLIGENCE. 

DICTA TION. 

One of the Examiners will read slowly and so dis- 
tinctly that each person being examined can hear him', 
the exercise for dictation accompanying this paper. Copy 
compactly and as much of the dictation as possible^ and be 
careful of the spelling. 

It shall be the duty of the Com- it it shal be the duty of the 

misionr to conduct all examano- cormission to conduct all examona- 

tions held under these regulations, tion ^c held under thies regula- 

andto assertain the fitness of can- tions and to asertain the Fitness 

didates for the service of the citys of Canidate For the Service of the 

in respect of caracter knoledge and City In respect of carrecttor knowl- 

ability for the branch of the ser- eag and ability For the Branch of 

vice into tuich they seek to enter. the Servis In to Which they Seek 



to enter 



PENMANSHIP. 



Note by Editor.— This was a test of handwriting, following a copy, 
and, of course, cannot be reproduced here. 



ARITHMETIC 



I. Add $9,201.41 

306.29 
4,287.26 

842.18 
1,620.49 

16.2s7.63 I42S7>^3 



22 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



a. Subtract from 8,792,406 




901,844 




7.8^0.362 


8go6.02 


3. Multiply 4,906 




by 809 




44,154 




39,248 




3.9^8.954 


44190-52 


4. Divide 48,721 by 46 




46)48.72i(/q5P+A 


\^No answer made.'] 


46 




272 




230 




421 




414 





5. Write in words the figures $90,604.50 

Ninty Thousand Six hundred nine million six hundred and 
and four Dollars and Fifty cents Four dolars and Fifty sents 

6. Write in figures Four hundred thousand and one. 

400.000.001 40000. 

LOCAL QUESTIONS. 

I. How would you proceed from the Bridge entrance 
to Raymond Street Jail ? Give the streets through 
which you would pass. 

/ would go down Sands st. by the of Sands St to gold St to 
Navy, up navy to Flushing ave myrtle down myrtle to raymond 
and then take a short cut through St fale. * 

Navy park to raymond st, and tip 
to Jail. 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 2% 

2. Eft)w would you proceed from the South Ferry to 
the City Hospital ? Give the streets. 

Up Atlantic ave to Court Court I Wold go up atlantic St to 

to city hall, fulton to Dekalb ave henry St and down henry to the 

DeKalb ave to Hospital at ray- horspittal. 
niond st. 

3. Give the streets through which you would pass in 
going from Hamilton Ferry to Jewell's Wharf. 

Saccett 6^ Columbia ^ Atlan- Fulton St Court St and Cor- 

tic sts. lumbia St. 

4. Give your idea of the duties of a Policeman. 

To prevent crime if possible My eyedear is as I think Wold 

and if crime is committed find be to arrest eney person viorlatin 
out the guilty parties and arest the laws 
them to preserve law and order in 
our streets and obey the orders of 
his superior Officers at all times 

5. Name a few crimes which render the person com- 
mitting them liable to arrest and punishnient. 

Murder Burglary Larceny Stealing intoxucaksion. Drunk' 

Drunkardniss — Vile Language ardness 
High way robery. indecient ex- 
posure, fast driving. Purgery 
Contemp — Assault ^c. 

6. What course must be pursued under the law toward 
a person committing a crime before he can be punished ? 

He must have a fair and im- First ketch him and then try 

partial trial either by fudge or if him, 
neccesary by fury 

7. Name some of the penalties which may be imposed 
upon persons convicted of crime. 

For Murder the extreme penalty [No answer made.J 

is death, but may be snt to states 
prison for all other crimes the 
punishment is either states Prison 
Penetenary County Jail or House 
of reffuge 



24 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

8. On arresting a disorderly person, what should be 
done, if he refuses to accompany you to the precinct ? 

Get assistance if not an officer call For helpe 
call on a citizen 

9. To which position would you prefer to be ap- 
pointed. Patrolman, Doorman, or Bridge Keeper? 
Give your reasons in full. 

Patrolman Dooreman 

Because I expect in time by 
good behavior cfc. To Get pro- 
moted to something better. 

10. How should a Patrolman act toward citizens ; 
and toward his superior officers ? 

He shozild act sivel and courteas \^No answer made ^ 

to all citizens and obey the comands 
of his superior officers 

The applicant's mark on Intel- The applicant's mark on Intel- 

ligence paper was 17 out of 20. ligence paper was 10 out of 20. 



EXPERfENCE. 

1. What is your trade or occupation ? 

/. am : an. able. Seaman, also Stone Trade 

a Engineer 

2. Where and with whom are you now at work? 
How long have you been at work there ? 

/. am, not, working, at.presant I a?n now at IVarking For 

Daykin and Son In Fulton St 
near Hudson. Av 

3. If not now at work, state where and with whom you 
were last at work, and state why you left that work. 

/ was Traviling Engineer at \^No answer made.'\ 

Tarrytow7i for the New croton 
Acqueduct and left on purpose to 
come here and be examined for 
Police force 

4. Have you followed more than one trade or occupa- 



ClViL-SERVlCE EXAMINATIONS. 



2S 



tion ? If so, state what trade or occupation you have 
followed other than the one you have already mentioned. 

/. have, drove express waggon I have done Publict Wating 

and have been member of Life 
Saving Station, also for the 
Municipal Electric Light Co 
puting up wire &^ Lamps 

5. What experience, if any, have you had specially fitting 
you for Patrolman, Doorman, or Bridge Keeper ? 

During my experience as Sea- I have no experience 

man df Life Saving crew I have 
been exposed to all sorts of weather 
and changes of climates and I 
have never worked any place but 
in the open air andean stand any 
kind of weather 

6. Have you ever been placed in any position where 
your courage has been tested ? If so, give the circum- 
stances fully. 

/. saved, one boy from, drown- I have not 

ing at old penny bridge Newtown 
creek and a man at the foot of 
North /^th st — and I man (Sr* i 
woman in San Francisco. Cal. 

N. B. Have. Discharges, from 
U. S. Merchant Marine Service 
in my pocket if Neccessary 

The applicant's mark on Ex- The applicant's mark on Ex- 
perience paper was 9. i out of lO. perience paper was 5.66 out of 10. 

The applicant's rating was as The applicant's rating was as 

follows : ^ follows : 

Physique . . . . . . 37 Physique 34-40 

Testimonials .... 27 Testimonials . . . . 17.66 

Intelligence . . . . . 17 Intelligence 10 

Experience 9.1 Experience .... 5-66 

Total 90.1 67.72 

He was second in the test, and He was below the minimum 

was successful. of 70, and was not eligible. 



U. S. POST OFFICE CARRIER'S EXAMINA- 

TION. 



[N. Y.] Post Office. — Series No. ii. — Carrier's 

Grade.* 



FIRST SUBJECT \WRITING\ 

Question i. — One of the examiners will read so dis- 
tinctly that each person being examined can hear him, 
one of the exercises for dictation accompanying these 
papers. In general not more than fifteen or eighteen 
words per minute should be read, nor more than five or 
six words without pause. Give the sense as much as 
possible, and be sure that all can hear. Allow two min- 
utes at the close for punctuation. 

(To Applicant.) — Write as much as you can of the 
passage read. If from any cause you miss a word, do 
not pause, but go on with the next words you hear. 
Write clearly and spell correctly. 

N. B. — Penmanship, orthography, use of capitals, and 
punctuation will be considered on this sheet ; also all 
omissions and mistakes. 

Applicant No. 2. Applicant No. 6. 

That no recomendation of any That no reccomendation of any 

person who shall apply for office person who shall apply for office 
or place, under the provisions of ^r place under the provisions of 
this act which may be given by this act which may be given by 
any Senator or Me?nber of the any Senator or member of the 

* Note by Editor. — The questions are given, as printed on the ex- 
amination blanks, in the large, plain type, across page. The smaller 
italic type shows the actual answers to the questions, those on the 
left by a successful, those on the right by an unsuccessful candidate. 

26 



CIVIL-SER VICE EXAMINA TIONS, 



27 



house of Representatives except as 
to the character or residence of the 
applicant shall be recieved or con- 
sidered by any person concerned in 
making any examination or ap- 
pointment under this act. 

Question 2. — Copy the following precisely : 
\^Sec. 332, Postal Laws and Regulations, 1879.] 



house of representatives except as 
to the character or residance of the 
applicant shall be received or con- 
sidered by any person concerned in 
making any exatnination or ap- 
pointment under this act. 



Letter carriers are forbidden to 
solicit contributions of money, 
gifts, or presents, in person or 
throgh others ; to issue addresses, 
complimentary cards ^ prints y pub- 
lications, or any substitute there- 
for, intended or calculated, to in- 
duce the public to m.ake them gifts 
or presents ; to sell tickets on their 
routes to theatres, concerts, balls, 
fairs, picnics excursions, or places 
of amusement or entertainment of 
any kind, or to deliver any matter 
while on their routes, except such 
as may be intrusted to them in the 
regular course of business. 



Letter carriers are forbidden to 
solicite contributions of money 
gifts or presents in person or 
through others to issue address 
complimentary cards prints publi- 
cations or any substitute therefor 
intended or calculated to induce 
the public to make them gifts or 
presents to sell tickets on their 
routs to theatres concerts balls 
fairs picnics excursions oi- places 
of amusement or entertainment of 
any kind or to deliver any matter 
■while on their routes except such 
as may be intrusted to them in the 
regular course of business. 



Question 4. — Write in full, in the spaces opposite, the 
names of the States denoted by the following abbrevia- 
tions : 



R. I 


Rhode Island 




Penn 


Pen nsylvania 


Pennsylvania 


Va 


Virginia 


Virginia 


Fla 


Florida 


Florida 


Ala 


Alabama 


Alabama 


111 


Illinois 


Illinois 


Nev 


Nevada 


Nevarda 


Colo 


Colorado 


Colorada 


Del 


Delaware 


Delaware 


Mo 


Missouri 


Mexico 



28 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



o 

a. 

O 



(U 

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P. 

o 
U 



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(U ^ (U o OJ 

> o "3 c > 

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.S .S ""^ C/2 

*^ f^ o 

N On On ONh-^r 



s s 

- § 

'=^^ 
c m 



o 

$:! 

o 



o 
. U 

o S ^ 

[i, o 






oi 



o 

o 

fcOD 
>^ 

.^ o 

^^ >; 






o 
u 




•^*>:^^3 






^ 



S "^ 



Co 










>^^^^^ 



o 



z 

< 
u 





V 








v 








Ki 








St 








8 




Is 




8 


1 






1 


. Dece 

. Not 
. Diss 


, 


. 


. 


^ 








v^ 








« 


• 


V 


* 


., <o 


V 


><> 


>^ 


^^•^ 






^ 






.& 


<1 


^< 


"N» 


^.» 


^ ":2 


•fr* 


%J 


r* 


•^ Q 


Q 




Vl 


« V> 


^ 













^ .^ 



<^ Q 



1^ 



G 



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CO CO i-t 



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CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 2g 

SECOND SUBJECT \ARITHMETIC\ 

Question i. — Add the following, placing the total at 
the bottom : 

5,673,911,987 87 5,673,911,987 87 

44,376,013,705 90 44,376,013,705 90 

7,736,910,286 16 7,736,910,286 16 

26,105,321,266 57 26,105,321,266 57 

132,873 63 132,873 63 

8,856,764,397 49 8,856,764,397 49 

1,049,307,000 30 1,049,307,000 30 

95,164,347 20 95,164,347 20 



Ans. ^3.8^3,523.86.3.12 Ans. ^3,8^3,323,686.12 



Question 2. — In one year there were 1,146,107,348 
letters, 324,556,440 postal cards, and 852,180,792 news- 
papers mailed in the United States. How many more 
cards and newspapers were mailed than letters ? 

Give the operation in full. 



I. 146. 


107. 


348. 


letters 


1,146,107,348 


324- 


556 

180 


440 
792 


324,556,440 


852 


1,470,663,778 


I. 176. 
I 146 


737 
107. 


232 
348 


852,180,792 
618,482,^^6 



Ans. 30. 62p. 884 

Question 3. — A postmaster sold money orders amount- 
ing to $20,197.75, and out of the proceeds paid money 
orders amounting to $15,246.90, How much of the 
proceeds had he left ? 

Give the operation in full. 

$20,197,75 20,197.75 

15.246.90 15,246.90 



Ans. $4,930,83 $4,930.83 



30 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

Question 4. — Write in words the following number : 
101,010,111. 

Alls. One hundred and one One hundred and one milion, 

Million — ten thousand one hun- tenth of a thousands one hun- 
dred and eleven. dred and eleven. 



Question 5. — Write in figures, ten thousand eight hun- 
dred and ten dollars and five cents. 



Ans. $10,810.0^ 



.010. 80^. 05 



Question 6. — A letter-carrier delivers on a certain trip 
9 lbs. of letters, averaging \ oz. each, 19 lbs. of papers, 
averaging 2 ozs. each, and 6 lbs. of postal cards, averag- 
ing ten to the oz. How many pieces does he deliver in 
all (a pound being 16 ounces), and what is the total 
weight ? 

Give the operation in full. 



9- 


16 


19. 


2>i6(8 


6 16 


19 


2 


8 


16 


10 


6 

34 


32 

9 

288 

152 


152 




160 

6 

960 




960 








1.400 pieces 








total weight 










34 i 


^ounds 



9 
19 
10 

6 

44 pieces 
16 

264 

44 



704 lbs. 



Question 7. — If a letter-carrier takes 47,520 steps of 24 
inches each every day, how many miles will he walk in 
one year ? (A mile is 5,280 feet.) 



Give the operatio?i in full. 



CIVIL-SER VICE EXAMINA TIONS. 



31 



47520 

24 

190080 
95040 
12)1.1404.80(95040 
108 xxxx 



60 

to 
048 

365 
18 



5280)95040(18 
5280X 

42240 
42240 



47.520 
24 

190080 

95040 
5280)1140 480(2/^ miles 

10560 X X 

8448 
5280 

31680 
31680 



2920 
365 



Ans. 6,^YO miles 

Question 8. — A regular letter-carrier receives the first 
year a salary of $600. How much will he earn in 219 
days at this rate ? 



Give the operation in full. 

365)600(1 5 m=n 



365 
235 



r47 



219 



ISO 



219 
120 

4380 
219 

26.280 



219)600. oo[$ 2yj^\^ part 

438 XX 



1620 
1533 



870 
657 
213 



73)26280(373 
219XX 



Ans. ^373^ 



538 

5" 
270 
219 



Question 9. — If one mile of railroad requires 115 tons 
of rails, costing $63.50 per ton, what will the rails cost 
for a road 46 miles long ? 



Give the operatio?i in full. 



32 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS, 

63.50 63.50 

115 115 



31750 31-750 

6350 6350 

6350 6350 



7302.50 46)73025o(^/jc?.jz |4 = \\ 

46 46XXXX 



4381500 270 

2921000 230 



Ans. $33S-9i5'Oo 402 

388 



.145 
138 



70 
46 



24 



Questio7i 10. — A substitute letter-carrier, while working 
for a regular carrier, receives the pay of the latter, which 
is at the rate of $1.64 per day. If in seven months he 
earns J218.12, how many days' work does he average in 
each month ? 



Give the operation in full. 



7)218.12(3 


116 


1.64 




2IX 






7 




8 
7 






1148) 


2i2.i2(z<5'i44 days 
1148X ^^ 


II 
7 
42 








19732 
Q184 

648 
TTTF 




ans 






i.64)3ii6(/p 
164 


days 




1476 
1476 











[The Third and Fourth Subjects were not used in this examination.— Ed.] 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



33 



FIFTH SUBJECT \GEOGRAPHY\ 

Question i. — Name the States that border on the Gulf 
of Mexico. 

Florida. Alabama. Mississippi. California. 

Louisiana, Texas. 

Question 2. — Name five of the largest cities or towns in 
the State where this examination is held. 

New York, Brooklyn. Buffalo. Albany, New York Buffalo. 

Rochester. Binghampton. Rochester Troy 

Question 3. — Bound the State in which this examina- 
tion is held, and name and locate its capital. 

New York is bounded on the On the north by the Do?ninion 

North by Canada. Lake Ontario, of Canada Lake Ontario, East 



and St. Lawrence River, on the 
East Vermont. Connecticut Mas- 
sachusetts, on the South New 
Jersey, and Pennsylvania, on 
West Pennsylvania. Lake. Erie. 
Canada and Lake Ontario 



by Vermont, Massachusetts dr* 
Connecticut West by Lake Erie 
Lake Ontario Dominion of 
Canada 



Question 4. — Upon what rivers or other waters are the 
following cities situated : 



Detroit 

Chicago 

Albany 

Mobile 

Savannah 



Lake Michigan 
Lake Michigan 
Hudson River 
Mobile Bay 
Atlantic Ocean 



Michigan Detroit River 

Boston 

New York oit Hudson 

Tennessee Mobile 

Florida Savannah 



Question 5. — In what States are the following cities 
located : 

Lowell Massachusetts 

Syracuse New York 

Bridgeport Connecticut 

Knoxville Tennessee 

Petersburg Virginia 

Lansing Michigan 

Altoona Pennsylvania 



San Antonio Texas 



Massachusetts 
New York 
Connecticut 
Tennessee 

Michigan 

Georgia 

California 



34 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 



Davenport Iowa 
Fort Wayne Indiana 



New York 



\No answer given. ^ 



Question 6. — Name the New England States and their 
capitals. 

Maine A ugusta 

New IIa77ipshire Concord 
Rhode. Island Newport dr" 

Providence 
Connecticut Hartford 

Vermont Montpelier 

Massachusetts Boston 

Question 7. — In what direction is Illinois from Louisi- 
ana ? 

North. North West 

Question 8. — Into what body of water does the Dela- 
ware river empty ? 

Chesapeake Bay. Atlantic Ocean 

Question 9. — What river connects Lake Erie and Lake 
Ontario ? 

Niagara River. St. Lawrence 

Question 10, — Where is Long Island, and what body of 
water lies between it and the main land ? 

Long Island lies South of Con- New York East River 

necticut, and East of New York. 
Lonp Island Sound 



The applicant^ rating was as 
follows : 

Writing .... 64. 
Arithmetic . . . 93. 
Geography . . . 84.50 



The applicant's rating was as 
follows : 

Writing .... 54. 



37- 



Average . . . . 80.50 

He was 14th in the list out of 
49, and was successful. 



Arithmetic 
Geography . . 

Average . . . . 45.50 
He fell below the minimum on 
the first antl second subjects, and 
so was not marked on the third, 



NEW YORK SANITARY ENGINEER EX- 
AMINATION. 



Municipal Service, City of New York. 



ARITHMETIC. 



Applicant No. 39. 
I. Add 756845 

874593 
981788 
456894 
627439 
568985 
672633 
489592 

5428769 

Add 8989898 
9231749 
5629376 

843 

2876565 

67876 

95 
6978428 

33774830 

2. From 93482005 
Take 86927098 

6554907 



Applicant No. 25. 



5,428,769 



33,774-830 



6554907 



Note by Editor. — The questions are given, as printed on the ex- 
amination blanks, in the large, plain type, across page. The smaller 
italic type shows the actual answers to the questions, those on the 
left by a successful, those on the right by an unsuccessful candidate. 

35 



36 



CI VIL. SER VICE EX A MINA TIONS. 



From 6300005 
Take 2241396 



40s86og 


405860^ 


Multiply 698745 




By 7089 




6288705 




5589960 




48912150 




4953403305 


• 4^953^93,705 


Multiply 98706 




By 608 




791648 




5922360 




60015248 


5^,813,248 


Divide 7296924 




By 906 




8054 


^o5m 


Divide 11 760 12 




By 12 





g8ooi 

The applicant's mark on arith- 
metic paper was 93.75 out of 100, 



gSooi 

The applicant's mark on arith- 
metic paper was 75 out of 100. 



TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE. 

Note by Editor. — The paper on Technical Knowledge, as originally 
prepared, included other questions which are omitted here, as they 
were not considered in determining the applicants' ratings. 

17. How would you produce an influx of fresh air and 
an outflow of bad or vitiated air in a dwelling ; in other 
words, how would you ventilate it ? 

By providing an opening to ad- \^No answer.^ 

mit the fresh air say below and 
a counter opening for — say above 
— for the exit of the vitiated air 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 3; 

causing a current, drawing in 
fresh air from the street and 
causing it to flow through the 
house and out at the roof. 

18. What method should be used in removing waste 
matter and excreta from dwellings ? 

The best way is to have it \No answer^ 

washed away with water. ■ 

21. What should be the size of a drain-pipe for a five- 
story tenement-house, with two families to each floor ? 

At least 6 inches. I should have the pipes as large 

as possible but at last — 6 inch — 

27. How are drains and sewers flushed ? 
By letting water -fiow freely in- [No answer. "l 

to them. 

28. Where there are no public sewers how should 
house-waste be disposed of ? 

It should be collected in small By a Cesspool 

receptacles mingled with earth or 
other cheap disinfectant and cart- 
ed away frequently, or it should 
be buried. 

29. How are sewer gases prevented from entering 
houses ? 

By means of a trap in the drain By means of S. Traps placed 

near the front wall of the house. at the front and rear of the house 

in the cellar on the soil pipe lead- 
ing to the Main sewer. 

30. What is a tenement-house ? "^ 

One containing three or more A Building in which Four or 

families. more families reside — 

31. In tenement-houses what air space should be 
allowed to each individual ? 

about 900 cubic feet. \No answer. '\ 

32. What air space should be allowed in sleeping- 
rooms ? 

about boo cubic feet. \No answer^ 



38 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

33. What material should be used for waste and soil 
pipes ? 

Iron, Cast iron — 

34. May the same material be used for all discharge 
pipes from a house ? 

Yes. Yes, 

35. Where may stoneware pipes be used ? 

outside the house under ground I should not use them except as 

if the ground is solid and not short connections 
newly made 

36. Are there any objections to the use of cast-iron 
pipes ? 

Yes, there may be flaws in the None if they are well glazed 

casting ; air holes etc. inside. 

37. How should the joints of cast-iron pipes be 
caulked ? 

They should be caulked with With okaum «5r* Lead — 

oakum with a caulking of lead 
above it. 

38. What is a trap, and how many kinds do you know 
of? 

A trap is a contrivance which A Trap is a fitting to prevent 

intejposes a seal of water to pre- the Sewer ^as from returning or 

vent the flow of gas. back up through the house — The 

There is the S, trap and the S. Traps. D- Traps, P. Traps 

half S. there is also a trap made — and Green Traps — 
that causes a ball valve to obstruct 
the flow of gas. 

39. To what extent should a " trap " be " water- 
dipped " ? 

At least 2 inches for water At The cellar — 

closets — on the inner bend — and 
\\ for water facets , sinks and 
basins. 

40. Where should a soil-jDipe be ** trapped " ? 

The Soil pipe of the house is To prevent the soil from back-^ 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 39 

trapped in the drain near the front ing up or returning 
wall of the house. The soil pipe 
of a school sink or yard water 
closet should be trapped shortly 
after it leaves the receptacle. 

41. Under what circumstances may a trap be 
"syphoned out," and how would you prevent it ? 

A vacuum forming in the By my Vent pipe — 

sewer will cause the syphoning of 
of a trap. I would prevent it by 
connecting the ventilating pipe 
with the outer side of the trap 
the suction from the sewer will 
feed itself from the vent pipe. 

42. How should every sleeping-room in a tenement- 
house which does not communicate directly with the 
open air be ventilated ? 

By windows opening in the Either by a light Shaft or pipe 

halls. running at least 2 feet above 

Roof— 

43. How should hallways be ventilated ? 
By a sky light that can be [No answer.} 

opened. 

44. How many water-closets or privies should be pro- 
vided for every tenement-house, as compared with the 
number of its occupants ? 

There should be one for every For a floor with 4 Families at 

three families of six. lest Two — 

45. May cellars, vaults, or underground rooms be oc- 
cupied as dwellings ; if so, under what conditions as to 
light and ventilation ? 

They may if the floors are "dry \_No answer. '\ 

and impervious to damp. And 
if there is a chance for free ven- 
tilation and the entrance of day- 
light, (not recommended.) 



40 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

46. May animals be kept in a tenement-house ; if so, 
what ? 

I consider all animals objection- I understand no Animals ex- 

able excepting cats, cept Dogs or Cat are allowed in 

Tenement house 

47. Whose duty is it to cleanse a tenement- or lodging- 
house, and how often must this work be done ? 

The owners ; and it should be The owner — lessee or occupant 

done constantly. — at least once a week — The 

Hallways etc every day 

48. In case of infectious or pestilential diseases, what 
power has the Board of Health with reference to the 
house where it occurs ? 

They have the power to cause To immediately remove the case 

the premises to be thoroughly ven- and cause the house to be disin- 
tilated, cleansed and disinfected fected. 
and may if thought proper cause 
its evacuation. 

49. What proportion of a city lot may be occupied or 
covered by a tenement-house ? 

About %Q percent \^No answer."] 

50. What shall be the height of ceilings and the area 
of window space in tenement-houses ? 

Ceilings should be lo feet high [No answer."] 

and window spaces should be 12 
to iS square feet, 

51. What must be the area of light and air-shafts in 
tenements of three, four, and five stories high ? 

The area should be 20 square \No answer.] 

feet. 

52. How must water-closets be ventilated ? 

By air shafts from the roof, or In the case of the olcl style 

by windows. Vaults by means of a Vent pipe 

to roof — In case of Hoppers or 
school sinks by means of Ven- 
tilators in the doors — 



CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 4 1 

53. What is the object of fresh-air pipe ; and which 
side of a trap should fresh-air inlet be taken from ? 

To connect the sewage system To prevent the Syphoning of 

of the house with the fresh air Trap also to carry off the foul air 

from outside. and leave the Trap sweet — Frofn 

The fresh air inlet should be the crown of the Trap — 
taken from, the side of the trap 
nearest the house. 

54. Should the rain-water leader be "trapped " at the 
bottom ; if so, why ? 

Yes. It prevents sewer gas No the rain water leader should 

from entering the windows frof?i not be trapped as in Fine weather 
possible openings in the leader. it will act as a vent pipe 

55. How should lead and iron pipes be connected ? 

A brass nossel or end should be By a Brass Ferrule — Wiped in 

pastured to the lead pipe by means — 
of a'''' wipe "joint and it should 
be connected with the iron pipe by 
means of caulking with oakum, 
and lead. 

56. State the object of connecting " vent " pipes with 
traps, on which side the connection should be made, and 
how it should run through the house. 

The object of connecting vent \_No answer.^ 

pipes zuith traps is to assist the 
escape of gas and prevent the 
syphoning out of the traps. 

They should be connected on the 
side nearest the sewer and should 
run through the house in a 
straight line from, cellar to roof. 

58. Draw a section of a five-story tenement showing 
how waste-pipe should be carried to soil-pipe, and also 
how the "vent " pipe is applied. 

[Diagram necessarily omitted. — Ed.] \_A^o answer.] 



42 CIVIL-SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 

59. Write out a report to the Board of Health on the 
following data : 

Five-story tenement, 25 by 65, 4 families on each floor, 
120 people, hallway in centre, 10 rooms on floor, about 
8 feet square, windows of inside rooms 2 feet square, 
opening into hall, 4 privies in yard, sink in living-room 
fitted with J-S trap. 

Five story tenement, 25 + 65, I should recommend fiezv traps 

j^ families on each floor, 120 peo- to be at least — 
pie, hallway in center, 10 rooms 
on floor, about 8 feet square, 
windoivs of inside rooms 2 feet 
square opening into hall, ^privies 
in yard, sink in living room, 
fltted with \ S trap. 

There should be at least 8 
privies for the use of the occupants 
of this House or a school sijzk in- 
troduced itt place of those that are 
there. The sinks should be fltted 
with i^ in. S. traps in the House 

The applicant's mark on Tech- The applicant's mark on Tech- 

nical Knowledge paper was 95.42 nical Knowledge paper was 48. 23 
out of 100. out of 100. 



CITY INFORMATION. 

1. Name the three most important United States Gov- 
ernment buildings in the city, and give their location. 

Post Office = Broadway and General Post office B'dw'y 6^ 

Park Row. Sub. Treasury Nas- Park place. Sub Treastuy Wall 

sau cor of wall street Ctistom St — Custo7n House Wall St — 
House Wall street 

2. Name five principal streets running east and west. 
Wall St. 14 St. 23 St— 34 St— 42 St— 
Fulton St. 125 St 

Fourteenth st. 

Twenty third st. 

One hundred ^ twenty flfth st. 



• CIVIL^SERVICE EXAMINATIONS. 43 

3. Name five daily newspapers published in the city. 
Herald. Times. Tribune Staats World — Herald— Times — Tri- 

Zeitung and Sun. bune — Sun 

4. Name three principal public squares below Forty- 
second street. 

City Hall park. Union Square Madison — Union Square — 

Madison square Thompkins Square 

5. Name three principal public markets, and give their 
location. 

Washington Market — West st Washintong Market — Vesey 

<2r=" Vesey Fulton Market— South St— Jefferson Market 8 St—^ 6 
St dr' Fulton Catherine m.arket ave — Centeral Market — 48 St &f 
Catherine st 6r* South Bdwy 

6. Name five of the departments of the city government. 
Police, Health, Public Work, W. R. Grace — Mayor — Alx — 

Charities &= Correction, Dock, A. Shaler — Pres. Health Depl. — 

T. S. Brennan — Pres — Charities 
6^ Correction. Stephen B. French 
— Pres Police Dept — Henry D. 
Purroy. Pres — Fire Dept 

7. If you want permission to carry a pistol, to whom 
do you apply ? 

Suprintendent of Police To. Supt Murray — Police Dept 

8. Name three classes of business that pay license fees 
to the city. 

Liquors. Theatres. Public Hackmen — Licened Vender's, 

Carriers Theatres 

9. What is the official title of the treasurer of the city 
of New York ? 

Chamberlain City Chamberlain — 

10. Through what means does the city obtain its sup- 
ply of water, and what department has charge of it ? 

By means of Aqueduct bring- From Croton Lake through the 

ing water from Croton river the adquetucdt — Dept Public Works 

Bronx dx^c. under direction of — 
the Dept. of Public works 

The applicant's mark on City The applicant's mark on City 

Information paper was 100 out Information paper was 100 out 

of 100. of ICXD. 



44 



CI VIL- SER VICE EX A MINA TIONS. " 



EXPERIENCE. 

[Note by Editor. — The following are copies of the application 
blanks and appended certificates, which, as filled in by the applicant 
and his references, are marked as an experience paper.] 



[The applicant\ being duly 
sworn, says that he is forty-one 
years of age, that he is a citizen 
of the United States, and that he 
is a resident of New York City, 
N. Y. , and resides at No. \_appli- 
canfs address] street therein ; 
that he has not been in the service 
of the city of New York, and 
that he has been in the Military 
service of the United States for 
3 months as private, Harper^s 
Ferry, Va., in summer of I^b2, 
and 30 days as surgeon s steward 
in summer of 12)62), in Penn., and 
was honorably discharged. 

This deponent further says : ^ 

Had a public-school education, 
been a pharmacist for twenty 
years ^ and for the past six years 
have practised medicine, having 
g7'aduated from the University 
Med. College of the City of New 
York. 

[Sworn to and signed by the 
applicant.] 

This application is limited to 
Sanitary Engineer, 

[Three citizens], residing at 
No. [address of each] street, 
severally certify, and each for him- 
self certifies, that he has been per- 
sonally acquainted with the above 
applicant for three years last past. 



[The applicant], being duly 
sworn, says that he is twenty-one 
years of age, that he is a citizen 
of the United States, and that he 
is a resident of New York City, 
and resides at No. [applicant s 
address] street therein ; that he 
has not been in the service of 
the city of New York, and that he 
has 7iot been in the service of the 
United States. 



This deponent further says : 

/ have had experience in en- 
gineering, steam heating, and 
plumbing work, and can handle 
and run machinery, steam-en- 
gines, a7id know how houses 
should be constructed in plumbing 
apparatus, etc. 

[Sworn to and signed by the 
applicant,] 

This application is limited to 
Sanitary Engineer. 

[Five citizens], residing at 
No. [address of each] street, 
severally certify, and each for him- 
self certifies, that he has been per- 
sonally acquainted with the above 
applicant for y<7z^r years last past, 



CIVIL-SER VICE EXAMINA TIONS. 



45 



and believes him to be of good 
moral character, of temperate 
and industrious habits, and in all 
respects fit for the service he 
wishes to enter, and that each is 
willing that this certificate shall 
be published for public informa- 
tion, and will, upon request, give 
such further information con- 
cerning the applicant as he may 
possess. 

\^Signatures.'\ 

The applicant's mark on Ex- 
perience-paper was 93.33 out of 
100. 



The applicant's rating was as 
follows, his standing on the re- 
spective papers being multiplied 
by the "weight" given to that 
paper in determining the general 
result : 

go. X I go. 

93-75 X I 93.75 



Handwriting 
Arithmetic 
City Informa- 
tion . 
Technical 

Knowledge 
Experience . 



100. 



X I 100. 



95.42 X 5 477.10 

93.33 X 2 186.66 



10)947.51 



General average . . 94.75 

He stood first in the examina- 
tion out of forty-four applicants. 



and believes him to be of good 
moral character, of temperate 
and industrious habits, and in all 
respects fit for the service he 
wishes to enter, and that each is 
willing that this certificate shall 
be published for public informa- 
tion, and will, upon request, give 
such further information con- 
cerning the applicant as he may 

possess. 

\_Signatures .\ 

The applicant's mark on Ex- 
perience-paper was 78.66 out of 
100. 



The applicant's rating was as 
follows, his standing on the re- 
spective papers being multiplied 
by the "weight" given to that 
paper in determining the general 
result : 

98. X I 98. 

75. XI 75. 



Handwriting 
Arithmetic 
City Informa- 
tion . . . 
Technical 

Knowledge 
Experience . 



100. X I 100. 
48.23 X 5 241.15 

78.66 X 2 157.32 



10)671.47 



General average . . 67.14 

He fell below the required 
minimum and was rejected. 



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Blanqui (J. ^.). History of Political Economy in Europe. 628 pp. '$3.00. 
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maybe selected by the Committee. The following tracts have been already issued, 
and may be had by applying to the Secretary. The four numbers published in any 
year will be sent on receipt of 50 cents. 

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

R. R. BOWKER, New York, Chairman. 

E. M, SiiEPARD, New York, Treasurer. 

A. E. Walradiv-Nqw York, Secretary. 

David A. Wells, Norwich, Conn. "'« «^2 080 366 9 W 

W. C. Ford, Washington, D. C. " ^| 

Geo. Haven Putnam, New York. ^H 

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Office address .•31 Park Row (Room 10) New York. 




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